In the present study Iran’s rice imports trend is forecasted, using artificial neural networks and econometric methods, during 2009 to 2013, and their results are compared. The results showed that feet forward neural network leading with less forecast error and had better performance in comparison to econometric techniques and also, other methods of neural networks, such as Recurrent networks and Multilayer perceptron networks. Moreover, the results showed that the amount of rice import has ascending growth rate in 2009-2013 and maximum growth occurs in 2009-2010 years, which was equal to 25.72 percent. Increasing rice import caused a lot of exchange to exit out of the country and also, irreparable damage in domestic production, both in terms of price and quantity. Considering mentioned conditions, economic policy makers should seek ways to reduce increasing trend of rice import; and more investment and planning for domestic rice producers.

In this paper, the behavior of Iran's imports during the period 1353-1382 is studied using disaggregated expenditure components of total national income. Using disaggregated components of total national income for obtaining import demand is a new approach that differs from traditional approach, which only uses domestic income and relative prices. In this regard, we use ARDL cointegration method and in case of imports demand, Error Correction Model. The study shows inelastic import demand for all the expenditure components and relative price. In the shortand long-run, exports and Investment are the major determinants of imports in Iran. demand for imports is not very sensitive to price changes.

A seasonal tariff is a kind of customs duties which varies across different periods or seasons. It is used where the supply-demand equilibrium varies with the season in a meaningful way. It doesn't concern only agricultural products and, due to the seasonal variation of supply and demand, may cover a broader range of products. A seasonal tariff is mainly determined by price fluctuation and the necessity of market regulation.This paper follows three purposes: 1. to identify those agricultural products which require seasonal tariffs, 2. to determine those months during which seasonal tariffs are needed for the identified products, and 3. to calculate the required seasonal tariffs. To these ends, the method of price gap/ differential and applied import duties in 1997- 2005 has been used.As per authors, findings, out of 294 agricultural products, eight product- apple, orange, potato, onion, peas, watermelon and tomato - are of utmost priority for having seasonal tariffs owing to their monthly price fluctuation during the said period. Their terms of seasonal tariff - harvest periods - are as follows: Mordad- Bahman for apple, Mehr-Bahman for orange, Mordad-Bahman for grapes, Tir-Bahman for potato, Ordibehesht-Azar for onion, Khordad-Shahrivar for peas, Tir-Aban for watermelon and Khordad-Azar for tomato. Furthermore, according to the authors, findings, seasonal tariff rates (deemed equal to bound tariffs) for imports during harvest periods range from 81 percent for watermelon to 47.5 percent for potato.

This paper aims to investigate the Consumer Ethnocentrism and its effect on the consumers’ Attitude Toward Importing and consequently on the Purchase Intention of products. The methodology used in this research is descriptive of study type. Our statistical population incorporated all of the faculty members and personnel of Allameh Tabataba’i University. The sampling method was random and relative stratified, from which 284 people were chosen. After collecting the questionnaires and doing statistical analysis such as simple and multivariable Linear Regression, it was concluded that our statistical population has rather low ethnocentrism. Also, it is verified that Perceived Product Necessity moderates the effect of Consumers Ethnocentrism on the Attitude Toward Importing and Attitude Toward Importing affects Imports Purchase Intention.